Layoffs and other bad news: handle them like a leader - ep. #5

#AskAVC with Ryan Floyd

Startup life is inherently complex and unpredictable and no matter how hard we try, failures - small and large - are inevitable. Yet, delivering bad news could be very uncomfortable. In episode #5 of the #AskAVC podcast, I give techniques and tips for leaders, founders - and anyone, really - that, in my experience, make those unpleasant moments easier to deal with.

A few things I talk about:

1. It’s hard to deliver difficult news - but it's normal. You are not alone.

2. Don’t bare your soul - focus on the issue at hand and stay professional.

3. Don’t focus on blame - analyzing past mistakes and learning from them is important, but don't stay stuck in the past.

4. Paint a path forward - as a leader, show the meaningful action plan to your employees, don't just "dump" the problems on them and walk away

5. Layoffs - one of the most challenging and not very often talked about aspects of going through hard times in business.

6. Dealing with exec changes - complexity of layoffs multiplied by two.

Disclaimer: This podcast is based on the #AskAVC YouTube channel (youtube.com/askavc) - hence, the occasional visual references.